the life of horatio lord nelson-第13节
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ow what British seamen ought to bealmost invincible。 They really mind shot no more than peas。〃 General Dundas had not the same confidence。 〃After mature consideration；〃 he said in a letter to Lord Hood；〃and a personal inspection for several days of all circumstances； local as well as others； I consider the siege of Bastia； with our present means and force； to be a most visionary and rash attempt； such as no officer would be justified in undertaking。〃 Lord Hood replied that nothing would be more gratifying to his feelings than to have the whole responsibility upon himself； and that he was ready and willing to undertake the reduction of the place at his own risk with the force and means at present there。 General D'Aubant； who succeeded at this time to the command of the army； coincided in opinion with his predecessor； and did not think it right to furnish his lordship with a single soldier； cannon； or any stores。 Lord Hood could only obtain a few artillerymen； and ordering on board that part of the troops who； having been embarked as marines； 〃were borne on the ships〃 books as part of their respective complements； he began the siege with 1183 soldiers； artillerymen； and marines； and 250 sailors。 〃We are but few；〃 said Nelson；〃but of the right sort； our general at St。 Fiorenzo not giving us one of the five regiments he has there lying idle。〃
These men were landed on the 4th of April； under Lieutenant…Colonel Villettes and Nelson； who had now acquired from the army the title of brigadier。 Guns were dragged by the sailors up heights where it appeared almost impossible to convey thema work of the greatest difficulty； and which Nelson said could never； in his opinion； have been accomplished by any but British seamen。 The soldiers； though less dexterous in such service； because not accustomed； like sailors； to habitual dexterity。 behaved with equal spirit。 〃Their zeal；〃 said the brigadier； 〃is almost unexampled。 There is not a man but considers himself as personally interested in the event； and deserted by the general。 It has； I am persuaded； made them equal to double their numbers。〃 This is one proof； of many； that for our soldiers to equal our seamen； it is only necessary for them to be equally well commanded。 They have the same heart and soul； as well as the same flesh and blood。 Too much may； indeed； be exacted from them in a retreat； but set their face toward a foe； and there is nothing within the reach of human achievement which they cannot perform。 The French had improved the leisure which our military commander had allowed them； and before Lord Hood commenced his operations； he had the mortification of seeing that the enemy were every day erecting new works； strengthening old ones； and rendering the attempt more difficult。 La Combe St。 Michel； the commissioner from the national convention； who was in the city； replied in these terms to the summons of the British admiral〃I have hot shot for your ships； and bayonets for your troops。 When two…thirds of our men are killed； I will then trust to the generosity of the English。〃 The siege； however； was not sustained with the firmness which such a reply seemed to augur。 On the 19th of May a treaty of capitulation was begun； that same evening the troops from St。 Fiorenzo made their appearance on the hills； and； on the following morning； General d'Aubant arrived with the whole army to take possession of Bastia。
The event of the siege had justified the confidence of the sailors； but they themselves excused the opinion of the generals when they saw what they had done。 〃I am all astonishment；〃 said Nelson； 〃when I reflect on what we have achieved； 1000 regulars； 1500 national guards； and a large party of Corsican troops； 4000 in all； laying down their arms to 1200 soldiers； marines； and seamen！ I always was of opinion； have ever acted up to it； and never had any reason to repent it； that one Englishman was equal to three Frenchmen。 Had this been an English town； I am sure it would not have been taken by them。〃 When it had been resolved to attack the place； the enemy were supposed to be far inferior in number； and it was not till the whole had been arranged； and the siege publicly undertaken； that Nelson received certain information of the great superiority of the garrison。 This intelligence he kept secret； fearing lest； if so fair a pretext were afforded； the attempt would be abandoned。 〃My own honour；〃 said he to his wife； 〃Lord Hood's honour； and the honour of our country； must have been sacrificed had I mentioned what I knew； therefore you will believe what must have been my feelings during the whole siege； when I had often proposals made to me to write to Lord Hood to raise it。〃 Those very persons who thus advised him； were rewarded for their conduct at the siege of Bastia： Nelson； by whom it may truly be affirmed that Bastia was taken； received no reward。 Lord Hood's thanks to him； both public and private； were； as he himself said； the handsomest which man could give； but his signal merits were not so mentioned in the despatches as to make them sufficiently known to the nation； nor to obtain for him from government those honours to which they so amply entitled him。 This could only have arisen from the haste in which the despatches were written； certainly not from any deliberate purpose； for Lord Hood was uniformly his steady and sincere friend。
One of the cartel's ships； which carried the garrison of Bastia to Toulon； brought back intelligence that the French were about to sail from that port；…such exertions had they made to repair the damage done at the evacuation； and to fit out a fleet。 The intelligence was speedily verified。 Lord Hood sailed in quest of them toward the islands of Hieres。 The AGAMEMNON was with him。 〃I pray God；〃 said Nelson； writing to his wife； 〃that we may meet their fleet。 If any accident should happen to me； I am sure my conduct will be such as will entitle you to the royal favour； not that I have the least idea but I shall return to you； and full of honour： if not； the Lord's will be done。 My name shall never be a disgrace to those who may belong to me。 The little I have； I have given to you； except a small annuityI wish it was more； but I have never got a farthing dishonestly： it descends from clean hands。 Whatever fate awaits me； I pray God to bless you； and preserve you； for your son's sake。〃 With a mind thus prepared； and thus confident； his hopes and wishes seemed on the point of being gratified； when the enemy were discovered close under the land； near St。 Tropez。 The wind fell； and prevented Lord Hood from getting between them and the shore； as he designed： boats came out from Antibes and other places to their assistance； and towed them within the shoals in Gourjean Roads； where they were protected by the batteries on isles St。 Honore and St。 Marguerite； and on Cape Garousse。 Here the English admiral planned a new mode of attack； meaning to double on five of the nearest ships； but the wind again died away； and it was found that they had anchored in compact order； guarding the only passage for large ships。 There was no way of effecting this passage； except by towing or warping the vessels； and this rendered the attempt impracticable。 For this time the enemy escaped； but Nelson bore in mind the admirable plan of attack which Lord Hood had devised； and there came a day when they felt its tremendous effects。
The AGAMEMNON was now despatched to co…operate at the siege of Calvi with General Sir Charles Stuart； an officer who； unfortunately for his country； never had an adequate field allotted him far the display of those eminent talents which were； to all who knew him； so conspicuous。 Nelson had less responsibility here than at Bastia； and was acting with a man after his own heart； who was never sparing of himself； and slept every night in the advanced battery。 But the service was not less hard than that of the former siege。 〃We will fag ourselves to death；〃 said he to Lord Hood； 〃before any blame shall lie at our doors。 I trust it will not be forgotten； that twenty…five pieces of heavy ordnance have been dragged to the different batteries； mounted； and； all but three； fought by seamen； except one artilleryman to point the guns。〃 The climate proved more destructive than the service； for this was during the lion sun； as they call our season of the dog…days。 Of 2000 men； above half were sick； and the rest like so many phantoms。 Nelson described himself as the reed among the oaks； bowing before the storm when they were laid low by it。 〃All the prevailing disorders have attacked me；〃 said he； 〃but I have not strength enough for them to fasten on。〃 The loss from the enemy was not great； but Nelson received a serious injury： a shot struck the ground near him； and drove the sand and small gravel into one of his eyes。 He spoke of it slightly at the time： writing the same day to Lord Hood； he only said that he bad got a little hurt that morning； not much； and the next day； he said； he should be able to attend his duty in the evening。 In fact； he suffered it to confine him only one day； but the sight was lost。
After the fall of Calvi； his services were； by a strange omission； altogether overlooked； and his name was not even mentioned in the list of wounded。 This w
